Liberty took sets four and five to rally to the 3-2 win over the Presbyterian College volleyball team in Big South action Saturday afternoon in Lynchburg, Va. PC won set one, 25-19, but lost set two 19-25. The Blue Hose took set three, 25-23, but fell in sets four and five, 22-25, and 8-15. Sydney De Jong led the Blue Hose with a career-high 18 kills, with Caroline Henderson adding a career-best 15.

Scoring the MatchA close firs set early, the Blue Hose turned a 13-13 tie into a 22-14 lead off a 9-1 run, which included seven straight from PC. Liberty responded with a 5-1 run to cut the margin to four, 23-19. That would be it as PC closed the set out with a kill from DeJong and Caroline Henderson, taking the 25-19 win.

The second set was a back and forth battle throughout with the Flames leading by no more than four until a four unanswered by the Flames extended a two-point, 19-17 lead, to 23-17, the largest margin of the set. PC and Liberty traded points the rest of the set but it’d be the Flames with the last, an Anna Gragg kill, to give the home team the 25-19 victory.

Tied 14-14 in the third set PC took a 19-15 lead off a 5-1 run. The Blue Hose were able to keep at least a two-point lead the next several points, until a Payton Carter kill staved off a PC set point, 24-23. A service error by the Flames ended a potential rally, giving the Blue Hose the 25-23 win.

PC led 15-10 in the fourth set but a 4-1 run by Liberty cut the lead to two, 17-15. PC scored three unanswered to retake the five-point lead, 20-15. The Flames rattled off six straight to take a 22-21 lead before a Henderson kill tied it back at 22-22. Sirena Vorster and Casey Goodwin gave the Flames set point, 24-22, with a kill apiece, with a block assist by the both of them sending the match to a fifth set, 25-22.

Liberty stormed out to a 5-1 lead in the fifth set, extending it to 11-4 before PC rattled off three straight to cut it to 11-7, helped by a De Jong kill and an Erin Eulitz service ace. The Flames hit set point off three straight, with an Ashton Stewart kill slowing down the Flames, 14-8. That would be it as Gragg sealed the 15-8 set and match win for Liberty.

Player of the MatchAside from De Jong and Henderson, the other Blue Hose in double figures was Erin Eulitz with 11. Jaclyn Brewington posted 28 assists, while Daley Gosnell added 26 digs. Leading Liberty was Anna Gragg with 19 kills, followed by Casey Goodwin with 15. Amaya Williams added 59 assists, while Margaret Latchford posted 21 digs.

Stat of the MatchLiberty held the 73-64 advantage in kills and had the slight edge in attack percentage, .290-.234. The Flames led in digs, 93-80, and had two more service aces, 6-4.

NotablesSydney De Jong recorded a career-high 18 kills and 42 attacks. Her six blocks and block assists were also a career-best.Caroline Henderson posted a career-high 15 kills and 44 attacks.Ashton Stewart’s six block assists tied her career-best.

For the RecordPC drops to 4-10 overall and 1-1 in the Big South, while Liberty improves to 4-11, 1-1.